The settings can't be changed regardless of whether it's locked or not but the kids can still turn it off halfway through a cycle. I have to shut up the laundry when it's on.
Arggggh. I hear you on this one. Our laundry is next to the toilet and DD1 hates noise (unless she's making it of course!) so she will go into the laundry, pause the washing machine and then go to the toilet. I can go in there thinking the washing is finished and find its still got 50 minutes to go and is still paused!! Drives me nuts.